Silent Hill: Book of Memories (Video Game Review)

By : Seth Worley on Sunday, October 21, 2012 | 12:49 PM

Publisher Konami is back with their newest iteration of the Silent Hill franchise called Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and while the series is one that is well known for mixing things up a bit with each new release, Silent Hill: Book of Memories completely changes the formula on what a Silent Hill title can be, and with superb results. While Silent Hill: Book of Memories still classifies as a survival horror game in many aspects, the way you play the game has been dramatically changed to more of an action RPG played from an overhead camera view rather than the usually harrowing, third-person experience to which fans of the series have grown accustomed. The result is a game that excels with addictive combat and exciting multiplayer while totally turning off many fans that were hoping for another great survival horror adventure.
In Silent Hill: Book of Memories, you create your own protagonist as you head into a new game, and customization options are in abundance throughout the game, as you spend in-game currency to unlock better outfits and gear. Your new character will enter the cursed world of Silent Hill after receiving a mysterious tome known as the Book of Memories from an otherworldly mailman. Upon opening the book, you discover it holds records of your entire life, and you set out to fix the poor choices you've made so far by any means possible. You'll encounter all types of terrifying creatures throughout your time in Silent Hill: Book of Memories, and classic characters such as the Nurse and Pyramid Head return for nostalgia factor in this new direction for the franchise. As with other Silent Hill games, Silent Hill: Book of Memories will feature multiple endings, and they will be determined by your righteous or evil intentions throughout the game as determined by your Karma Meter.

Your character in Silent Hill: Book of Memories can be chosen from one of five classes: jock, bookworm, rocker, goth or preppy. Each class come with their own unique strengths and weaknesses, but you won't be allowed to level throughout the game which ensures the game is always difficult to a degree. You'll find plenty of melee and firearms scattered throughout the game, but you'll want to make sure you conserve ammo and keep a close eye on the durability of your weapons to keep them from completely breaking. You'll advance through series of diverse, isometric environments on your way to the ending of the game, with each backdrop providing new scenery and deadlier to ensure you always stay on your toes. Each stage will require you to find Challenge Orbs and defeats waves of enemies before completing really interesting puzzles in order to progress through to the next level in the game. The puzzles are one of the most important returning aspects from the rest of the series, as good puzzle design is becoming significantly less prevalent in today's gaming industry.

Silent Hill: Book of Memories is the best game you wasn't looking forward to this year. Those that are hoping for another third-person, survival horror trip into Silent Hill will be disappointed in the new title, but if you're looking for one of the best PlayStation Vita exclusives, you should definitely pick up Silent Hill: Book of Memories. The game features a great storyline, exciting gameplay, a chilling soundtrack from composer Daniel Licht great multiplayer action for up to four players and a plethora of customization options for your characters. What more could you want? The game is fun to play alone or with friends, and Silent Hill: Book of Memories is just another great title that PlayStation Vita owners need to purchase. The game may have been delayed numerous times before its release, but in this rare exception, Silent Hill: Book of Memories was well worth the wait!

Silent Hill: Book of Memories is now available from all major retailers for the MSRP of $29.99 and can be purchased exclusively for PlayStation Vita. Silent Hill: Book of Memories is rated M by the ESRB for Blood and Gore, Language, Suggestive Themes & Violence. For more information on the game, check out the official Silent Hill: Book of Memories website.